Roma's director of football Monchi has shot down Chelsea's offer for striker Edin Dzeko.
Monchi called the Premier League club's bid as "not interesting" as the former Manchester City forward lined up for their Serie A clash at Sampdoria.
But Antonio Conte, whose Chelsea face Arsenal tonight in the Carabao Cup, has been dealt another transfer blow after a string of failed attempts to bring in attacking reinforcements.
A deal for Dzeko was reported to be imminent but that's not the case according to Monchi.
“Roma, like every club in the world, listen to the offers that arrive for their players, not just for Edin, but anyone in the squad,” the director of sport told Mediaset Premium (via Football Italia).
“We are ready to listen and then we decide. Now Dzeko is here and the rest doesn’t matter, which means the offer that arrived is not interesting.
“I don’t know what personal terms were offered to the player, as I am not his agent. I am talking about Roma: an offer arrives, we look at it and then decide."
Conte is keen for a striker to take the pressure off out of form and now injured Alvaro Morata and Michy Batshuayi, who the Italian manager appears to lack faith in - neither are in the squad at Arsenal.
The Premier League champions have been linked with moves for West Ham's Andy Carroll, Stoke's Peter Crouch and Burnley's Ashley Barnes during the January transfer window.
But they're barking up the wrong tree with Roma.
“A director of sport must look at the economic and sporting aspect, that is the point of the role," Monchi continues.
"I am a director, I must consider both, otherwise tomorrow I would’ve gone to sign Leo Messi.
“We must win to change the dynamics of the last few games. We had a good performance against Inter and today need an even better one.”